White Horse

By Emanuel Swedenborg

Throughout his theological writings, Emanuel Swedenborg devotes more pages to discussing the inner, spiritual meaning of the Bible than to any other topic. In his short work "White Horse", first published in 1758, he provides the spiritual theory behind the verse-by-verse analysis found in his multivolume works "Secrets of Heaven" and "Revelation Unveiled".

"White Horse" begins with a short summary of the spiritual meaning of the white horse described in Revelation 19:11. In form, what then follows is a series of statements about the inner meaning of the Bible with references to explanatory passages in "Secrets of Heaven". However, when read in sequence, those statements are also a concise summary of Swedenborg’s theology of biblical interpretation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E-BOOKARAMA
• Release date: Aug 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9788835347248

Book preview

18

WHITE HORSE

Emanuel Swedenborg

1

THE WHITE HORSE mentioned in THE APOCALYPSE CHAPTER 19 In the Apocalypse of John the Word is thus described as to its spiritual or internal sense: I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in justice He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire; and upon His head were many diadems; and He hath a name written that no one knew but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in the heavens followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen white and clean. And He hath upon His vesture and upon His thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords (19:11-14, 16). No one can know what each of these expressions involves, except from the internal sense. It is manifest that every expression is in some respect representative and significative: as when it is said, that heaven was opened; that there was a white horse; that there was One sitting upon him; that in justice He doth judge and make war; that His eyes were as a flame of fire; that on His head were many diadems; that He had a name that no man knew but He Himself; that He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; that the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses; that they were clothed in fine linen white and clean; and that on vesture and on His thigh He had a name written. It is expressly said, that it is the Word which is here described, and the Lord who is the Word; for it is said, His name is called the Word of God; and afterwards, He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. From the interpretation of each, expression it evidently appears, that the Word is here described as to its spiritual or internal sense. By heaven being opened is represented and signified, that the internal sense of the Word is seen in heaven, and thence by those in the world to whom heaven is opened. The horse, which was white, represents and signifies the understanding of the Word as to its interiors; that this is the signification of a white horse, will be shown presently. That He that sat upon him is the Lord as to the Word, thus the Word, is manifest, for it is said, His name is called the Word of God; who, from good, is called faithful and judging in justice; and from truth, is called true, and who maketh war in justice; for the Lord Himself is justice. His eyes, as a flame of fire, signify the Divine truth, from the Divine good of His Divine love. The many diadems upon His head, signify all the goods and truths of faith. Having a name written that no one knew but He Himself, signifies that the quality of the Word in the internal sense is seen by no one but Himself, and those to whom He reveals it. Clothed in a vesture dipped in blood, signifies the Word in the letter, to which violence has been offered. The armies in the heavens which followed Him upon white horses, signify those who are in the understanding of the Word as to its interiors. Clothed in fine linen, white and clean, signify the same persons in truth from good. Upon His vesture and upon his thigh a name written signifies truth and good, and their quality. From these particulars, and from those which precede and follow in that chapter, it is evident, that therein is predicted, that about the last time of the church the spiritual or internal sense of the Word would be opened; but what would come to pass at that time, is also described there (verses 17-21). That this is the signification of the words mentioned, it is unnecessary to prove in this place, as they are particularly explained in The Arcana Coelestia; where it is shown, That the Lord is the Word, because He is the Divine truth (n. 2533, 2803, 2884, 5272, 7835). That the Word is the Divine truth (n. 4692, 5075, 9987). That because the Lord is justice, therefore it is said, that He who sat upon the horse in justice doth judge and make war; and that the Lord is called justice for this reason, because of His own power He has saved the human race (n. 1813, 2025-2027, 9715, 9809, 10019, 10152). And that justice is the merit which belongs to the Lord alone (n. 9715, 9979). That His eyes, as a flame of fire, signify the Divine truth from the Divine good of the Divine love, is, because the eyes signify the understanding and the truth of faith (n. 2701, 4403-4421, 4523-4534, 6923, 9051, 10569); and a flame of fire signifies the good of love (n. 934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832). That the diadems which were upon His head signify all the goods and truths of faith (n. 114, 3858, 6335, 6640, 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905). That He hath a name written which no one knew but He Himself, signifies that the quality of the Word in the internal sense is seen by no one but Himself, and those to whom He reveals it, is because a name signifies the quality of a thing (n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3237, 3421, 6674, 9310). That clothed in a vesture dipped in blood, signifies the Word in the letter, to which violence has been offered, is because a vesture signifies truth because it clothes good (n. 1073,